Hey, friends, welcome back to the Insider Journal, where we wrestle with maximizing our eternal outcomes as Christian leaders. Today, we’re in Part 4 of our six-part series on money, diving into tax strategies. But these are tax strategies you’ve maybe never thought or heard of. Today, we’re talking about a tax strategy that wins forever. Stick with me for some bold moves to steward your eternal experience. Let’s dive in.

After two years of being in Priority Living’s The Master’s Program, Heather and I attended a Hope International fundraiser with our friend Lance Wood, who was the MC. Stories of micro-financing transforming lives—families lifted, Gospel spread—stirred our hearts. When it came time to give, we checked our mental account balances. There was a problem. While our tax statements screamed success, our cash flow whispered obligations—bills, loans, credit cards. We gave what felt like a minimal amount that night, and driving home, we were so frustrated at our giving. We wanted to be generous givers, not just minimalists. Halfway home, Heather opened her purse, pulled out her credit cards and said, “Here, take these and pay these off. Close them. Cancel them. I want to give more.” I was all like, “Yes—let’s do this!” That night sparked a journey to radical generosity for us—and it changed everything.

Here’s the problem: No matter how much wealth you have, it’s easy to starve at your income level. Americans spend 125% of what they earn, trapped by debt, subscriptions, or lifestyle creep. Even in abundance, we hoard or overspend, leaving little for Kingdom impact. Like that unused vacation home or the $70 billion in forgotten bank accounts we talked about last time, our cash gets tied up in chains of our own making. We’re not stewarding for eternity—we’re surviving month to month, even with plenty.

But that night’s pivot to generosity for Heather and me wasn’t based on altruism. Yes, we loved how this was helping needy people, no doubt—however, our motivation centered on a tax basis, rooted in our beliefs about forever.

Jesus said in Matthew 6, “…store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” So there’s a heavenly account to store in. Colossians 3 urges us: “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

You see, the tax strategy that wins isn’t about loopholes—it’s about a motivation to give to your eternal home. In other words, you’re taxing your eternity today by leaving everything tied up in past expenses (like debt) or dormant and unused assets. As a high-performing, successful person, you know what it means not to borrow tomorrow’s happiness to satisfy today. Knowing what we know about eternity and keeping our minds there, we want to make moves that will move us past the pleasures of this short life.

First, cut the chains and get some guidance. Start by reaching out to the National Christian Foundation (or “NCF”). It was a God-made relationship that Lance Wood was not only the MC of Hope International that night for Heather and me, but he is also a part of NCF. NCF’s insights have been germane to our thinking. Someone from NCF can help you steward ways to make incredible earthly tax strategies and gain margin with choices to unlock Kingdom opportunities. They’ll help you unchain what traps your cash.

Second, build a heavenly bank account. Picture every dollar you give—whether to your church, a micro-finance ministry like Hope International, or a neighbor—as a deposit in God’s economy. Here’s how I want you to bring that vision to life. List out all the places you want to impact before the end of the year. Gospel poverty, crisis pregnancies, orphans, the poor, widows, single motherhood—you name it. Attach a tangible outcome for what you’re passionate about. Then, pray for an amount you think God would like you to allocate. Every time you give, you’ll be making a heavenly deposit. Get ready; When the updates start coming from the places you’ve invested in, you’ll start to get even more passionate about these investments!

Third, dream with your legacy. You see, every person’s life will have a story. Your biography is being written day after day. What will that book—that will last forever—say about your money? How much will you have partnered with Jesus in The Great Commission?

The tax strategy that wins forever is the one that doesn’t tax eternity. Give like heaven’s your home. It’s where you’ll be forever. When you release your cash flow and assets to be eternity builders, you’re storing treasure where it counts. That night with Heather wasn’t about cutting cards—it was about cutting chains to live generously.

This week, act like royalty (yes, we do need more kings and queens). Look over all of what you’re stewarding. Contact NCF for a strategy—and then get your CPA to help you with these moves.

Don’t let earthly chains be a tax on your eternity. Who would want their life’s story to say, “and they missed the opportunity to eliminate their eternal taxes?”

In your corner,
Jeff

____
Discover the locations of our new cohort launches! CLICK HERE